Is Meditation Religious?

Many people are reluctant to accept the idea of meditation because they associate the term with a specific religious practice. Is meditation a religious practice? Well, it is and it isn't. Meditation is a deeply personal experience and what you get out of it depends heavily on what you are trying to get out of it.

Meditation can be compared to a automobile or similar vehicle. The vehicle has the ability to take you down many roads leading to many places, but you ultimately decide where you will go using it. Meditation can lead to relaxation, increased concentration, and a deeper connection with any item or thought that you choose to meditate on. Many religions use varying forms of meditation in order to contemplate the items or concepts that are important to their individual tradition.

Many eastern religions (such as Buddhism and Hinduism) encourage meditating in order to free the mind of preconceived notions about reality. Other religions, such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism encourage meditation through prayer. During this form of meditation many people devote their full concentration to their respective god or important aspects of their religious faith.

Non-religious people may choose to meditate for a variety of reasons. Anyone can take the time to look deeply into the world around them in order to realize the beauty and complexity of every day items and situations. This eventually leads to a greater understanding of the self, of others, and of reality as a whole.